How does Patreon work? (dt./engl.)

Although I´m super happy that our family is growing, there still is a lot of misunderstandings about patreon as this form of support is still almost unique and rather complicated. So I decided to write a kind of manual in both German and English to clarify, and will share this as well. Feel free to share it yourself, this post is obviously public!

NOT as in, when you pledge a certain amount, that this will be drawn from your credit card immediately, and once. Like on indiegogo, or kickstarter. Or with the bucket at our shows.

When you pledge a certain amount (let´s say 10 dollar), this amount will NOT be drawn from your card.

Only in the moment I POST something and mark it as a „Work“ or „Thing“, exactly this amount will be drawn, and transferred (minus a fee) to me. Your 10 dollars go from you to me – for me sending you a streaming link or download code for something I made, a song, or something different.

And this will happen EVERY TIME I DO SO!

You paid to me, as record labels used to to, a buying price for a work of art that didn´t exist in the moment you named your price. While trusting that you would like the work!

This is what patrons used to do in former times. Usually peers, merchants who wanted to look like peers, or sometimes real art lovers.

This is where patreon got its name.

Patreons are NOT clients. Clients look at the offering, choose, and pay for what they like.

Patreon, in turn, is based on mutual trust. In the moment you pledge you can download my entire work, in higher quality than on most platforms. You get insight into my very personal stories, blogs, and talks with the other patreons. You get access to unreleased songs and drafts, to the movie treatment and comic book, the photo book, the poetry and and and.

Without having paid a single cent.

In turn, you give me an advance in trust. That my next work, or at least the fact that I keep on producing stuff, will be worth to you whatever you pledged. (As 10 dollar in the example. Which is much for one song. But not much for a record. Much for a mere treatment of a movie, but not much for a comic book. Much for a blog post, but not much for a singing lessen… Also, as a 10 dollar patreon you´ll get your personalized and hand painted tickets for our spaceship sent to your home adress! Have a stroll through our other rewards….)

What happens if I don´t post anything for one month?

Then your membership doesn´t cost you anything, and neither do I get anything. Patreon doesn´t raise fees, only for the transactions.

What happens if I post something and don´t mark it as „work“?

The you will have access to whatever it is, also if it´s „patreon only“ – but it doesn´t cost you anything. And I don´t get money either.

BUT what happens if I post three „things“ at once in one month? (Yes it happens!)

Then your pledged amount will be drawn from your card three times, and I get money three times.

Art for Money.

That´s too much trust?

No worries – patreon cares for you. And I like this becuase it keeps me posting as much as I want, and can, without being afraid to cause you problems!

Just click HERE: https://support.patreon.com/hc/en-us/articles/115002984506-How-do-I-set-a-monthly-max-to-my-membership- , follow the instructions and enter the maximum amount you´re willing to spend in each month. (You can change that anytime.) No fear! Be honest. This can also be the exact amount OF your pledge. In the example that´d mean you pay only 10 dollars in one month no matter how many things I release. You will get all these things though! Because this doesn´t alter your tier nor access to your posts. You get 30 dollars worth of art for 10 dollar in our example! And I´ll be happy about it because that means I can write and post and release without any bad conscience. Nobody else will blame you either.

What else?

When you pledge 15 dollars or more (no matter if capped or not) and you´re on facebook, go here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/superpatreons/ ! This is our exclusive (and still small) group of Super Patreons with rehearsal live streams, photos not suitable for the public, secrets, plans, and helpful discussions about our shows and marketing not of concern to everyone. Plus, the easiest way to connect to other patreons.

And don´t forget to announce to me that you´re coming to our shows – when you´re a 7+ patreon your ticket is on me! (or your drink if it´s a free show!)

Why is this so important to me?

Actually, not in the first place to earn money with art in the most honest, direct, and simple way I know – and to be able to invest it in more projects and tours which wouldn´t have been possible without the certainty of money coming in next work.

But because you show me that my art is worth something. Because you motivate me to make more. Because your trust shows me: it is needed.